Jesse Rifkin

Owner and operator of Walk on the Wild Side Tours NYC, a music history walking tour company in New York City. He is also a pop music historian for the Association for Cultural Equity and published the book 'This Must be the Place: Music, Community and Vanished Spaces in New York City'.

Best podcasts with Jesse Rifkin

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Jul 4, 2025 • 50min

Sounds of the City Collapsing

Jesse Rifkin, a music historian and owner of Walk on the Wild Side Tours NYC, takes listeners through the gritty underbelly of 1970s New York's punk scene. Discover how iconic clubs like CBGB and the Mercer Arts Center shaped a cultural renaissance amid urban decay. Rifkin shares personal stories of transformation from musician to cultural guide, while illuminating the importance of community in music. He also highlights the influence of figures like Eric Emerson and the overlooked legacy of Jane County, showcasing the punk movement's complexity and vibrancy.

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